I am astonished at what I am hearing on @LBC right now about #OperationArk and the peddling of the narrative that it diverted manpower and focus on the ground in Kabul and within government. The narrative is now turning towards the 1,000 Afghans left behind to an uncertain fate…
…all being blamed on Pen Farthing. This is making my blood boil yet again.
The evacuation has not been handled well by the government from start to finish.
The government ignored intelligence that the Taliban take over was immunity and took action too late in the day.
The evacuation has not been handled well by the government from start to finish.
The government ignored intelligence that the Taliban take over was immunity and took action too late in the day.
Biden unilaterally decided on the withdrawal timetable and then changed the rules on Thursday at the US controlled airport that Afghan passport holders could no longer leave - with or without authorisation or visas. The shutters came dow before everyone made it out.
Pen’s aircraft was a PRIVATELY funded charter and the evacuation of his staff and animals was a PRIVATELY funded operation. No capacity was taken from a single refugee seeking escape. Additional private capacity was in fact being offered to aid an additional 170 people.
All government departments involved authorised the operation asides the MoD / Ben Wallace who immediately started peddling the “pets before people” lie. This caused a 36 hour delay during which the evacuation of Pen’s 70 staff + families was blocked by Biden’s change of rules.
Had the delay not happened, Pen’s staff and their families would have been on the plane. An additional 170 evacuees would also have been given a means of escape due to the additional capacity.
The real reason 1,000+ Afghan people (interpreters, assistants, staff) have been left behind is because of the way the whole operation in Afghanistan has been handled by western governments, especially the US who called the timetable, controlled the airport and changed the rules.
Pen and his animals have been processed and loaded at the airport by British soldiers AFTER all individuals that could have escaped have escaped. The Americans and Taliban are no longer letting anyone in.
The government is looking to blame someone for the way these remaining people have been left behind. They have found the smokescreen and the scapegoat they wanted to cause division and diversion from the real issue.
Had Pen stayed he would have been a TARGET and put his staff and their families at risk. He had to go without them.
Keep up the support. We cannot let this poisonous narrative continue to blow smoke over the real failings by our Government and President Biden.
Keep up the support. We cannot let this poisonous narrative continue to blow smoke over the real failings by our Government and President Biden.
The government are now briefing (anonymously) that they were not able to process more Afghan civilians because of the diversion of focus and resources caused by Operation Ark.
THIS IS A SHAMEFUL LIE
DON’T FALL FOR THIS GOVERNMENT SMEAR
OUR GOVERNMENT IS A DISGRACE
THIS IS A SHAMEFUL LIE
DON’T FALL FOR THIS GOVERNMENT SMEAR
OUR GOVERNMENT IS A DISGRACE
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